III 

112TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 109 

Honoring and supporting women in North Africa and the Middle East whose 

bravery, compassion, and commitment to putting the wellbeing of others 

before their own have proven that courage can be contagious. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 28, 2011 

Ms. SNOWE (for herself, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mrs. MURRAY, Mrs. BOXER, Mrs. 

HAGAN, Mrs. HUTCHISON, Ms. CANTWELL, Ms. LANDRIEU, Mrs. 

SHAHEEN, Ms. COLLINS, Ms. STABENOW, Ms. AYOTTE, Ms. MIKULSKI, 

Ms. MURKOWSKI, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mrs. MCCASKILL, and Mrs. 

GILLIBRAND) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 

the Committee on Foreign Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Honoring and supporting women in North Africa and the 

Middle East whose bravery, compassion, and commitment to putting the wellbeing of others before their own 

have proven that courage can be contagious. 

Whereas, in the course of peaceful protests in countries 

throughout North Africa and the Middle East, women 

have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with men to advance 

their rights; 

Whereas Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has said, 

‘‘The rights of women and girls is the unfinished business 

of the 21st Century.’’; 


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•SRES 109 IS 

Whereas, in late December 2010 and January 2011, Tunisia 

underwent a political upheaval, dubbed the ‘‘Jasmine 

Revolution,’’ resulting in the fleeing of President of Tunisia Zine El Abidine Ben Ali from the country on January 

14, 2011; 

Whereas one of the first voices of the ‘‘Jasmine Revolution’’ 

was the sister of Mohammad Bouazizi, the young man 

whose death led to many of the peaceful protests in Tunisia; 

Whereas, on January 25, 2011, demonstrations began across 

Egypt with thousands of protesters peacefully calling for 

a new government, free and fair elections, significant constitutional and political reforms, greater economic opportunity, and an end to government corruption; 

Whereas women in Egypt have utilized social media to galvanize support among men and women for peaceful protest; 

Whereas huge crowds came out to protest peacefully in 

Egypt, and women were among those that faced tear gas 

and who pitched their tents and slept in the cold in 

Tahrir Square; 

Whereas hundreds of women took part in a rally in Cairo on 

March 8, 2011, the 100th Anniversary of International 

Women’s Day, to remind women in Egypt that they must 

have a voice in their nation’s future; 

Whereas, on February 25, 2011, the United Nations Security 

Council and the international community condemned the 

violence and use of force against civilians in Libya; 

Whereas, according to press reports, women in Libya have 

been working behind the scenes making a profound difference to promote reform and keep the momentum of 

the uprising alive, listening to worried fathers whose sons 


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•SRES 109 IS 

are fighting on the frontlines, keeping up with the dayto-day clashes and casualty numbers, and holding meetings about health and education issues, as well as participating in the demonstrations themselves; 

Whereas, according to press reports, women are among the 

leaders of demonstrations calling for reform in Yemen; 

Whereas women’s groups in countries such as Morocco, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iran have attempted to harness critical support regarding legislation affecting their rights; 

Whereas women around the world continue to face significant 

obstacles in all aspects of their lives, including denial of 

basic human rights, discrimination, and gender-based violence; 

Whereas women, young and old, have marched in the streets 

of countries from Tunisia to Iran demanding freedom 

from oppression; and 

Whereas women across North Africa and the Middle East aspire for freedom, democracy, and rule of law: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) honors the women in North Africa and the 

3 Middle East who have worked to ensure that women 

4 are guaranteed equality and basic human rights; 

5 (2) recognizes that the empowerment of women 

6 is inextricably linked to the potential of nations to 

7 generate economic growth and sustainable democ8 racy; 


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•SRES 109 IS 

1 (3) acknowledges that women in North Africa 

2 and the Middle East are demanding to be included 

3 in making choices that will affect their own lives and 

4 their families; 

5 (4) reaffirms the commitment of the United 

6 States to the universal rights of freedom of assem7 bly, freedom of speech, and freedom of association, 

8 including via the Internet, and supports the calls for 

9 representative and responsive democratic govern10 ments that respect these rights; 

11 (5) celebrates this year’s centennial anniversary 

12 of International Women’s Day, a global day to cele13 brate the economic, political, and social achieve14 ments of women past, present, and future, and a 

15 day to recognize the obstacles that women still face 

16 in the struggle for equal rights and opportunities; 

17 (6) condemns any efforts to provoke or insti18 gate violence against women, and calls upon all par19 ties to refrain from all violent and criminal acts; and 

20 (7) underscores the vital importance of women’s 

21 rights and political participation as leaders in North 

22 Africa and the Middle East consider constitutional 

23 reforms and shape new governments. 

Æ 


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